Multiple fulcrum carriage for infants



July 26, 1955 Filed June 55, 1953 G. E. OHEARN MULTIPLE FULCRUM CARRIAGE FOR INFANTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. Geom E. 0 Hanan July 26, 1955 G. E. OHEARN MULTIPLE FULCRUM CARRIAGE FOR INFANTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3,

INVENTOR. Geoesa E. OHERQN July 26, 1955 G. E. O'HEARN 2,714,013

MULTIPLE FULCRUM CARRIAGE FOR INFANTS Filed June 3, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. 650255 E. OHemzu United States Patent MULTIPLE FULCRUM CARRIAGE FOR INFANTS George E. OHearn, Gardner, Mass.

Application June 3, 1953, Serial No. 359,410

2 Claims. (Cl. 280--47.41)

This invention relates to a new and improved carriage for infants and may be applied to baby carriages, strollers, etc.

The principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a carriage of the class described that is very easy to push over a curb, up hills and around corners, and this eifect is accomplished by a novel construction involving a plurality of fulcrums in which construction the carriage body is supported upon a running gear by means of a plurality of levers, i. e. fulcrums such that the carriage body is movable fore and aft relative to the running gear, to the end that the center of gravity of the carriage body and the infant therein is shiftable in a way to assist in climbing a curb, in going down and up hills and around corners.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of the carriage as above described which will travel more evenly and smoothly over uneven surfaces in roads and sidewalks and saves the strength of the operator of the carriage by shifting the weight thereof during the operation of going up and down curbs, etc.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of the multiple fulcrum carriage construction above described wherein the operator upon encountering a curb pushes downwardly on the pusher handle, whereupon the multiple fulcrums and levers come into effect and automatically move the carriage to the rear relative to the running gear, so that upon then raising the carriage body slightly, the carriage is brought back to level position again when the running gear is again brought to a horizontal position upon the curb; and the provision of the use of the same construction operated more or less reversely in going down a curb.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a spring or springs associated with the multiple fulcrums and levers, said spring having the double function of cushioning the carriage body from bumping on the running gear and also the spring is arranged to assist in pulling the carriage up again to the original position upon the curbstone.

The invention contemplates pusher handles having fori wardly extending reaches that may be secured to the running gear axles or to the carriage body; and when the pusher reaches are attached to the body of the carriage, all the operator has to do is to keep pushing and the carriage will climb onto the curbing because the operator has the handle in his hands. The handle being attached to the body will actuate the same. Some people prefer the handle attached to the body and others prefer the handle attached to the gear.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating my invention and showing the carriage body in its forward, up position;

2,714,013 Patented July 26, 1955 Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the carriage body in the rearward down position and with a modified handle;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the carriage, parts being broken away and the body being omitted;

"Fig. 4 is a view on an enlarged scale illustrating the action of the rear fulcrums;

Fig. 5 isa View on enlarged scale illustrating the action of the forward fulcrums; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view transversely of the body, looking in the direction of arrow 6 in Fig. 4.

In carrying out the present invention, the principal points of novelty reside in the multiple fulcrums to be described, these fulcrrums supporting the carriage body and the infant therein and in turn being supported upon the running gear including the wheels and in the case illustrated, the multiple fulcrum linkages are supported directly on the axles of the running gear.

As shown, I have provided a pair of rear wheels 10 and a pair of front wheels 12, each pair being connected by axles respectively indicated at 14 and 16, the wheels being secured to the ends of these axles by any desired or convenient means.

The axles 14 and 16 are secured together rigidly in spaced relation by means of reaches 18 which may, if desired, extend rearwardly and form the pusher handles 20, but it is to be understood that these reaches 18 may terminate at the rear of axle 14 and the pusher handles may be applied directly to the carriage body generally indicated at 22, as indicated at 23.

Supported upon each axle there are a pair of spaced upright supporting members generally indicated at 24. These supporting members are generally the same and are secured by any desired means as at to the respective axle 14 or 16. Each of these supports is in the form of an angle bracket having a part thereof extending upwardly, and at the upper end thereof there is provided a pivot 26 to which is pivoted in each case a link 28. The links 28 are pivoted intermediate their ends as plainly seen in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 and at their lower ends are pivotally secured to the inter-connecting links 30 which extend fore and aft of the carriage. At the under side of the carriage body there are provided two pairs of down-turned supports or brackets 32 to which the upper ends of links 28 are pivoted at 34.

The links 28 may swing in a clockwise direction from the Fig. 1 position down and to the rear, insofar as brackets 32 are concerned, into the Fig. 2 position. From the Fig. 2 position, these links may swing in a counter-clockwise direction to again provide that the carriage body shall be in its uppermost and forwardmost position. The forwardmost position is shown in Fig. 1 and the rearwardmost position is shown in Fig. 2. It is pointed out that links 30 cause links 28 to move in unison and it will be appreciated that the center of gravity of the carriage is lower in Fig. 2 and more toward the rear in this figure than in Fig. 1.

It is intended that the carriage shall normally be operated to propel the infant contained therein in the condition shown in Fig. 1 and it will also be appreciated that if the pusher handles are secured directly to the body, the relative position of the body to the running gear is easily controlled merely by manipulating the pusher handle as to the rear and downwardly, etc. If the pusher handles are connected to the running gear as shown at 20 in Fig. 1, then the operator may place his hand upon the carriage and manipulate it as aforesaid.

There are provided a pair of springs each of which is adjustably secured to a bracket 36 on the rear axle. Each bracket 36 loosely receives an adjusting screw 38 having a wing nut 40 thereon and the respective springs 42 are secured to the ends of the adjusting screws so that the tension of the springs may be easily adjusted. These springs are connected to links 30 in any desired manner and clearly not only tend to maintain the body in uppermost position, and to return the body to said position, but also cushion the descent thereof as soon as these springs become elongated as the links 30 move forwardly from the Fig. 1 position to the position of Fig. 2.

Each link 30 may be provided with a stud or the like '44 which projects laterally thereof (see Fig. and when the links 28 have reached their desired position as in Fig. 5, the studs 44 prevent any further motion thereof. It is to be appreciated that any further swinging motion of the links 28 in Fig. 5 in solid lines will result in very little rearward motion of the carriage body so that the present stop 44 has been carefully located where it will be most effective. Also each link 28 adjacent its lower end is provided with a stop 46 which takes into a notch 48 in each of the brackets 24 to stop the linkage from progressing any farther in the counter-clockwise motion thereof.

The carriage body is made up of an open continuous framework generally indicated at 50, the same having a canvas or other like relatively inexpensive material 52 covering the opening, and for strengthening and ornamental means I have provided a series of interwoven crisscross wooden or other material strips 54 which not only lend strength to the carriage body but enhance and improve the appearance thereof while providing for very light weight combined with great strength.

There are of course two of the above described sides 50 and these are inter-connected by slanting front and rear ends which extend up and forwardly as clearly seen in Fig. 2. The bottom of the carriage is made up of a rectangular frame 56 having a depending well 58 also in the form of a rectangular frame, and the bottom being completely closed by a bottom member 60, which may be a piece of plywood or the like. The strips 54 may be varied in many ways to provide different designs, and one such variation is shown in Fig. 2.

This construction makes it possible to make many different styles on one body. That is, the different designs of strips 54 may be made as to the separate sides, front, and back, and the latter are easily assembled on the bodies as desired.

The carriage body is assembled with the separate back, front, and sides just prior to shipment, and by this construction the body is made on one production line, the running gear on another line, and the hood on a third line, all three lines meeting at the packing department saving time and floor space and greatly increasing production.

I claim:

1. Childs vehicle comprising a frame, front and rear wheels thereon, spaced pairs of forward and rearward uprights on the frame, a link pivoted to each upright for extended, aligned condition on each respective upright, or selectively for inclined, semi-folded condition thereon, a carriage body pivotally secured to the links and being movable therewith between an upward, forward position and a rearward down position relative to the frame, stop means to prevent excessive forward and rearward motion of the carriage body, resilient means cushioning the downward motion of the carriage body and returning the same to upward, forward position, said links forming multiple fulcrums for the carriage body.

2. The childs vehicle of claim 1 including links connecting the forward and rearward links.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 639,389 Holmes Dec. 19, 1899 998,771 Herman et al July 25, 1911 1,397,594 Moses Nov. 22, 1921 1,487,459 Hampson Mar. 18, 1924 1,532,337 OHearn Apr. 7, 1925 1,856,491 Mahr May 3, 1932 1,884,190 Perlmutter Oct. 25, 1932 1,897,036 Appenheimer Feb. 14, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 239,075 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1925 643,407 Great Britain Feb. 23, 1948 

